This sand contains more shells; it absorbs more moisture and dusts much less than white sand. The cost is about half of the white sand.
The use of brown shell sand is mainly concentrated in Northern France and the part of Flanders adjacent to the French border.
With the promotion of brown sand during the 1950s, it is now sold more than white sand. In addition to use in aviaries, it is also eagerly used in bird cages. White sand remains the norm for the exhibitions here too.